Most large carnivore species are in global decline. Conflict with local people, particularly over depredation on livestock, is a major cause of this decline, affecting both nominally protected populations and those outside protected areas. For this reason, techniques that can resolve conflicts between large carnivores and livestock farmers may make important contributions to conservation. We monitored rates of livestock depredation by lions ( Panthera leo), leopards ( Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), and retributive killing of these species by farmers in livestock-producing areas of Laikipia District, Kenya. Farmers killed more lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas where these predators killed more livestock. Livestock husbandry had a clear effect on rates of depredation and hence on the numbers of predators killed. Cattle, sheep, and goats experienced the lowest predation rates when attentively herded by day and enclosed in traditional corrals (bomas) by night. Construction of the boma, the presence of watchdogs, and high levels of human activity around the boma were all associated with lower losses to predators. Although most of this work was carried out on commercial ranches, local Maasai and Samburu pastoralists have practiced nearly identical forms of husbandry for generations. Our study shows that traditional, low-tech husbandry approaches can make an important contribution to the conservation of large carnivores.Limitando la Depredación de Carnívoros Africanos: el Papel de la Crianza de Ganado Resumen: La mayoría de los carnívoros mayores están en declinación global. El conflicto con habitantes locales, particularmente por la depredación de ganado, es una de las mayores causas de tales declinaciones, lo que afecta tanto a poblaciones nominalmente protegidas como a aquéllas afuera deáreas protegidas. Por esta razón, las técnicas que resuelvan conflictos entre carnívoros mayores y ganaderos pueden constituir importantes contribuciones a la conservación. Analizamos las tasas de depredación de ganado por leones (Panthera leo), leopardos (Panthera pardus), chitas (Acinonyx jubatus) e hienas manchadas (Crocuta crocuta), y la matanza en represalia de estas especies por granjeros enáreas productoras de ganado en el Distrito Laikipia, Kenia. Los granjeros mataron más leones, leopardos e hienas donde estos depredadores mataron más ganado. La crianza de ganado tuvo un claro efecto sobre las tasas de depredación y, por lo tanto sobre el número de depredadores muertos. Reses, ovejas y cabras presentaron las tasas de depredación más bajas cuando eran cuidadas de día y encerradas en corrales tradicionales (bomas) por la noche. La construcción de la boma, la presencia de perros guardianes y altos niveles de actividad humana alrededor de la boma estuvieron asociados con menores pérdidas por depredadores. Aunque la mayor parte de este trabajo se llevó a cabo en ranchos comerciales, pastores Massai y Samburu locales han practicado formas casi idénticas de crianza por generaci...

Understanding population dynamics requires models that admit the complexity of natural populations and the data ecologists obtain from them. Populations possess structure, which may be defined as ''fixed'' stages through which individuals pass, with superimposed variability among individuals and groups. Data contain missing values and inaccurate censuses. From limited data ecologists attempt to predict life history schedules and population growth.We extend the ''missing value'' framework for Bayesian analysis of structured populations to admit the heterogeneity in demography and the limitations of data that are typical of ecological populations. Our hierarchical treatment of capture-recapture data allows inference on demographic rates contained in matrix transition models for populations that may be stratified by location and by other variables. Simulations with artificial data sets demonstrate the ability of the Bayesian model to successfully estimate underlying parameters, even with incomplete census data. In contrast, traditional nonhierarchical models may lead to biased parameter estimates because of variation in recapture rates of individuals. Analyses of published demographic data on Common Terns and Taitu Hills rats illustrate the utility of the model. Predictive distributions of maturation age, survivorship, and population growth demonstrate profound impacts of population and data complexity.

BackgroundRodents of the genus Mus represent one of the most valuable biological models for biomedical and evolutionary research. Out of the four currently recognized subgenera, Nannomys (African pygmy mice, including the smallest rodents in the world) comprises the only original African lineage. Species of this subgenus became important models for the study of sex determination in mammals and they are also hosts of potentially dangerous pathogens. Nannomys ancestors colonized Africa from Asia at the end of Miocene and Eastern Africa should be considered as the place of their first radiation. In sharp contrast with this fact and despite the biological importance of Nannomys, the specimens from Eastern Africa were obviously under-represented in previous studies and the phylogenetic and distributional patterns were thus incomplete.ResultsWe performed comprehensive genetic analysis of 657 individuals of Nannomys collected at approximately 300 localities across the whole sub-Saharan Africa. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on mitochondrial (CYTB) and nuclear (IRBP) genes identified five species groups and three monotypic ancestral lineages. We provide evidence for important cryptic diversity and we defined and mapped the distribution of 27 molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) that may correspond to presumable species. Biogeographical reconstructions based on data spanning all of Africa modified the previous evolutionary scenarios. First divergences occurred in Eastern African mountains soon after the colonization of the continent and the remnants of these old divergences still occur there, represented by long basal branches of M. (previously Muriculus) imberbis and two undescribed species from Ethiopia and Malawi. The radiation in drier lowland habitats associated with the decrease of body size is much younger, occurred mainly in a single lineage (called the minutoides group, and especially within the species M. minutoides), and was probably linked to aridification and climatic fluctuations in middle Pliocene/Pleistocene.ConclusionsWe discovered very high cryptic diversity in African pygmy mice making the genus Mus one of the richest genera of African mammals. Our taxon sampling allowed reliable phylogenetic and biogeographic reconstructions that (together with detailed distributional data of individual MOTUs) provide a solid basis for further evolutionary, ecological and epidemiological studies of this important group of rodents.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-014-0256-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Investigations were conducted to study the effects of browse availability and quality on black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis michaeliGroves 1967) diet in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, between September 1994 and February 1995. Line intercept method was used to assess availability of browse. The ratios of browsed crowns to the total crown were applied in the estimate of browse use. Proximate analysis and extraction methods were used, respectively, to appraise browse nutritional quality and phytochemical status of twelve species. Thirty‐four plant species were identified as potential black rhino browse, whose availability differed significantly (P < 0.001). Lippia javanica (20.581 ± 3.101, n = 544) and Lannea cornuta (0.963 ± 0.529, n = 544) were the most and least available species, respectively. Only 32 species, however, were utilized, as L. cornuta and Rhynchosia hirta did not show any level of rhino feeding activity. Browse use was found to vary significantly (P < 0.001) during the study period. Grewia similis was most (20.564 ± 2.764, n = 544) and Commelina africana least (0.974 ± 0.974, n = 544) exploited, respectively. Differences in total alkaloids and phenols, crude fibre, crude protein and total ash contents among species investigated were highly significant (P < 0.001). Ether extract values were similar (P= 0.0933) across plant taxa. The study shows that the black rhino is a selective browser feeding on plants with low phenol and alkaloid contents and high fibre values. Of the nutritionally similar species, browsing was driven by availability. These findings suggest that a key habitat factor important in black rhinoceros conservation include diverse plant species with low levels of phenols and alkaloids.

Assessing the impacts of climate change in cities and their adaptive capacity: Towards transformative approaches to climate change adaptation and poverty reduction in urban areas in a set of developing countries. Science of the Total Environment, 692. pp. 1175-1190.